ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has mocked Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens for claiming that the Cowboys are known for winning Super Bowls. Smith launched into a long-winded, detailed rant about the team’s failure to reach football’s main event in almost 30 years and claimed that Pickens needed to do his research.
The analyst is known for mocking Dallas’ fan base, so it was no surprise that he jumped on Pickens’ comments.
Stephen A. Smith Tears Into George Pickens’ Take That the Cowboys Are Known For Super Bowls
Speaking to prominent Dallas radio station “105.3 The Fan,” Pickens spoke of his admiration for the Cowboys. The receiver claimed that Dallas is known for winning Super Bowls and that he’s determined to play his part in rekindling the team’s success.
George Pickens tells @gavindawson, @BryanBroaddus, @EricChiofalo & @ZachWolchuk that he can ‘most definitely’ see a future with the #DallasCowboys.
Listen to the entire interview in the comments.⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YDQ24tIkq2
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) July 28, 2025
“I watched the team for so long, and the camaraderie – I understand the camaraderie more than I did in Pittsburgh,” he said. “The Cowboys are known for the Super Bowl, you see what I mean? That’s what they’re known for. If they weren’t known for that, then no one would care about the Cowboys.”
Trying to get the fans onside early is a wise and common move for players after joining a new team, so Pickens can be forgiven for wanting to fire up the Cowboys fanbase. Unfortunately for the receiver, while his comments were well-intended, they left the door open for a wave of taunting from those less enamored with the franchise.
The Cowboys have a rich history in the NFL, but have failed to reach even the NFC Championship game since the 1995 season. Smith was all too happy to remind Pickens of that fact, and he didn’t hold back when addressing the receiver’s mistake.
“Of course you’re not synonymous with Super Bowls when you haven’t even been to a conference championship game in 30 years,” he said on ESPN’s “First Take.” Smith then voiced his admiration for Pickens’ ability on the field, but quickly issued a harsh reminder.
“You do understand that the Steelers are a more successful franchise?”
—@stephenasmith on George Pickens saying the Cowboys are synonymous with Super Bowls 😭 pic.twitter.com/TocWkrMjwN
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 29, 2025
“George Pickens, do you have any idea that when you talk about Super Bowls and the Cowboys, you do understand that the Steelers are a more successful franchise? Did you know that?”
“Do you understand what the hell you’re saying. I mean, my guy, you talk about a brother that needs to pick up a book. I mean, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to call him out on that.”
It would be over two and a half minutes before Smith was done. After sharing a long list of pop culture facts from January 1996, he highlighted how long the team’s drought has been. The analyst has no problem taking center stage when he has a strong opinion on a subject, and wasn’t going to take a back seat when it came to one of his favorite topics.
Smith’s disdain for the Cowboys fanbase no doubt meant that Pickens was subjected to a far stronger response than he would have had he been played for another team. The receiver already has plenty to prove in Dallas, and the Cowboys will hope Smith’s words add further motivation.
